BOSTON, MA — With the Winter Meetings kicking off, Red Sox insiders are confirming that a second player—besides the widely rumored Jarren Duran—is highly likely to be traded, significantly reshaping Boston’s roster. The name generating the most heat and speculation is outfielder Wilyer Abreu.
While Duran remains the most marketed player to teams needing speed and center field help, Abreu represents a different kind of trade currency: high-value, cost-controlled gold glove-caliber talent that could fetch a frontline player in return.
Why Abreu is on the Block
The Red Sox’s decision to aggressively address pitching with trades for Sonny Gray and Johan Oviedo has created a critical mass of talented starting pitchers, but their outfield logjam remains the team’s most obvious surplus.
The combination of the club’s defensive alignment and the ascension of top prospects makes Abreu (who is under team control through 2029) an attractive, yet painful, trade piece:
- Outfield Logjam: The Red Sox have an abundance of starting-caliber outfielders, including Duran, Abreu, Gold Glove winner Ceddanne Rafaela, and rising star Roman Anthony.1 The organization simply does not have room for all of them.
- Trade Value: Abreu’s value is arguably higher than Duran’s in many respects. He is a high-OBP bat, a plus-defender in right field, and has more club control remaining. To acquire an elite hitter (like Alex Bregman) or a top-of-the-rotation starter, the Red Sox need to offer a centerpiece with Abreu’s immense value.
- The Anthony Factor: With Roman Anthony firmly planted on the big league roster and the primary left-handed outfield option, the Red Sox are more comfortable moving Abreu, who plays a similar corner role.
Impact on the Roster
Trading Abreu (or Duran) is a painful necessity, but the return is expected to instantly address the team’s biggest remaining weakness: middle-of-the-order offense.
| Potential Impact | Detail |
| Middle-Order Bat | Abreu is the centerpiece that could pry loose an elite hitter (like a third baseman or first baseman) from a pitching-rich organization. |
| Pitching Consolidation | While the team just acquired Oviedo, trading a player like Abreu could be included in a package to acquire a true Ace like Joe Ryan or Tarik Skubal, forcing the Red Sox to trade from their pitching depth (like Kutter Crawford or Patrick Sandoval) to complete the deal. |
| Salary Flexibility | Moving Abreu opens up a valuable spot on the 40-man roster and provides the team with a clear payroll picture for the rest of the offseason. |
The consensus among analysts is that the Red Sox will execute at least one major outfield trade—and likely two—before the Winter Meetings conclude. While Duran’s departure seems inevitable, Wilyer Abreu is the name now creating the waves of speculation that could truly redefine the Red Sox’s path to contention.
